Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Yeah?" Jeremy placed her on the bed and walked to get the first aid box.

He felt bad for not getting to her sooner. It seems like she's affected greatly. He decided to let her speak more. Speaking what's in her mind will reduce her pain.

"Yeah!" Jerlina wiped the corner of her eyes. "Who knows what might have happened? And with what Emma tried to pull... It went smoothly because you were the one with the highest status among them all. If not... no one would have believed me and they'd have tried to silence me... I saw it happen to my colleague from before..."

Jerlina bowed her head once more. If what she went through with Gerard was terrifying, what Emma tried to pull was even more distressing.

Jeremy saw her going silent once more and walked to her. "The world is not fair, Jerlina. Classism still exists and the wealthy and those with power can get away with almost anything if they tried," he sat beside her.

"But remember this... You are someone with power. You are my wife!" he placed his hand on her shoulder.

Jerlina turned to look at him. He had a smile and she could see that he means what he says.

He is not wrong though. She is his wife and she has all the power he has. She didn't know why she froze like that today when that day when Gina was in an altercation with some thugs, she easily used Jeremy's name to escape.

Was it because Emma was involved? Am I subconsciously thinking that I cannot win against her manipulations? But the truth was on my side! I should have fought for it!

Jeremy wanted to talk about this later but he decided to speak now. When he saw her with her shoulders crunched as if she was put on trial for some abhorrent thing she did, he couldn't able to bear it. It hurt him to see her like that almost as much as when he saw that guy on her.

She is his wife! Even if she is in the wrong, she has no need to be this submissive! So why is she being like this when she is the victim?

But thinking about it now, he could understand why she stood like that then. She's kept her head down all her life and she never used others to climb up. She is where she is on her own effort.

And just like she said, although she is the victim, she thought she was in a disadvantageous position. She never will be in a disadvantageous position and her past habits can be hard to break. But she can learn at her own pace.

His wife doesn't have to bow her head to anyone unless she chooses to.

He started to apply medicine to the wounds on her arm and started speaking in a gentle tone.

"I get it... You might have been shocked and distressed today... But in situations like this, I won't blame you if you act rowdy. Shout! Scream! Curse! Make them listen to you! Not every door opens with knocking. Some need to be kicked open. Patience and honesty may be virtues. But the world doesn't care for the truth much anymore, Jerlina. They just care about making everything look fair and proper. And only those who claw and scratch to get heard will be given justice. If you keep mum, everyone will trample on you..."

Jerlina watched Jeremy speaking calmly as he applied medicine to her wounds and it reminded her of the day he treated her wound in her hand after she tried to stab him.

He had the same expression as today back then too. She didn't understand his expression back then.

Oh, how much he cares for me!

His words make sense. She needs to grow stronger and have more courage.

Thinking about how she is not helpless with no backing anymore, made her feel stronger. As always this man here gives her indescribable strength.

In the past, Gerard would listen to her woes and she thought that was enough. But Jeremy is teaching her how to overcome her troubles and when she can't he gives his shoulder to bear her burdens.

Strength is not just bearing one's burdens without complaining. Strength is when you have the courage to defend what's yours and stand up for yourself even when the whole world is against you.

"You give me strength, Joel," she held his hand.

He just smiled and went on with applying medicine. Jerlina watched him without even blinking her eyes.

His big hands were gentle as they were taking care of her. She didn't know how he could control his strength when it comes to her.

She once tried to use a chisel after watching him. He made it look so easy and the wood seemed so soft and he made it seem like he is working on butter.

But she couldn't even make a single dent in the wood at her first few attempts. The wood was so hard. It was then she realized how strong he is and how much effort he is putting in to make it seem effortless.

The same went for using sandpaper. It was tough for her while he made it look so easy.

He says he loves her and she had no means to even doubt it anymore. He is leaving no room for doubts.

He gives her so much courage without even considering she might leave him with the courage he gives her.

He wants to see her elevated. He never restricts her.

On the contrary, he has expanded her world which used to be her company, her job, her boyfriend, and a seven hundred square-foot apartment in the city to something vast and beautiful; something meaningful.

It may sound cheesy but... She had no doubts that he'd give her the world if she asks for it.

For the first time in her life, she felt like she is receiving something that she can never repay. And oddly, she didn't feel sad about it.

I wish you'd be happy forever, Joel... I wish I am by your side, watching you be happy forever...

God...

Joel... I have fallen for you, haven't I?

Her eyes clouded a bit and her fingers trembled as this realization hit her like an unexpected shower on a summer day.

Oh my God!

I should tell him, right?

She bit her lips and looked at him. He was now in front of her and was applying medicine on the scratch below her clavicle.

She was floating away thinking of her new realization and she was pulled back to reality by a tug of the towel she was wrapped in.

"What are you doing?" she asked clutching the towel.

"I'm checking for other scratches," he looked at her with his good-boy-look. But he couldn't hide the little smirk hanging by the corner of his lips.

"Get out of my room, perverted wolf," she kicked him on his abdomen and rolled inside the duvet.

Idiot! I was going to say something serious but he had to spoil it!